The longer the tail, the more likely it is to be stepped on.
Oh!
Indeed, one should be friendly with everyone.
You never know which connection might become valuable.
And when a shooting star falls, it is universally accepted that one should make a wish.
‘I hope my culinary journey goes smoothly.’
Less than a day after making such a wish, a book containing the national map of monster cuisine that I had been searching for so desperately fell into my hands.
Moreover, it was for an indefinite loan.
In essence, it wouldn’t be wrong to declare that ‘this book is now mine.’
In the medieval era without visual media, there is no better source of knowledge than books.
I received great kindness from a young lady with bun hair whom I had met by chance.
So I asked her.
“Don’t you want anything? I feel bad for only receiving.”
Even if it’s a declining earldom, I’m not penniless.
If there’s something she wants, I promised myself to speak to Rendler and have it arranged no matter what.
The unexpected reply came with a giggle.
“Me? I’m just happy to be given things. You don’t need to feel burdened. Just being able to recommend a book makes me happy.”
Ariel responded with a pure smile.
Is she the reincarnation of Mother Teresa?
The arrival of a tree that gives without limit?
I’m at a loss how to repay Ariel, who only gives endlessly.
Someday, when the opportunity arises, I must repay this kindness, I thought, as I continued my meal with the [National Monster Cuisine Tour] book spread open.
I don’t know who the author of this fantastic book is, but it was a perfect repository of knowledge.
From a national map with key culinary destinations to detailed recommendations by region, preferences in priority, and recommended travel routes.
Furthermore, indispensable restaurant maps include reviews and star ratings.
Even ‘hidden gems’ are included…!
This book was like a bible for gastronomic tourists, and as Ariel said, with this one book, all preparations were complete.
“Wow…, the village of Horis in the Duchy of Langgren is famous for its Red Dragon cuisine?”
A masterpiece of fantasy, using dragons as ingredients in cooking…
And contrary to expectations of toughness, the tenderloin is soft and exquisite?
Chewy yet moist tail meat skewers are a delicacy?
The clean innards and finely crushed bones stewed for two days make a delicious bone marrow soup?
I can’t resist this.
Despite dining in the Great Hall, my mouth waters at the thought of this monster cuisine.
The location is 10 km west of Winterfell in the North.
If I manage to escape, it’ll be my first destination, I murmured to myself, but Ariel spoke to me.
“Planning to go to the Duchy of Langgren? I heard there’s a big library there too.”
Oh.
“Shall we go together?”
I asked jokingly.
As a noble son of a declining earldom, an only child who lost his parents and is expected to take over as the head of the family, I’m free to travel.
After informing old man Rendler to settle adequate severance for the household staff and keep only the necessary personnel, I asked Ariel lightly, out of politeness.
She too, as the free-spirited third daughter, couldn’t live as freely as I do.
But the fact that there’s also a ‘big’ library there seemed to hint at the possibility of her company.
Then.
“Really?”
Ariel eagerly asked back.
It was pleasing for me.
Ariel Elrond, a young lady who had become my first friend since being incarnated in another world and to whom I owe great kindness.
However.
My planned culinary journey was not ordinary, promising the freshest direct-from-source travel.
For that, I was receiving special training from Rachel.
And though one might ask if I need a book like [National Monster Cuisine Tour] if I’m training hard, even if I go on a crusade, I can’t hunt monsters every day.
The essence of a gastronomic journey is [healing], after all.
I don’t intend to be so driven as to spoil that, thus a guidebook with restaurant reviews is essential for me.
Anyway.
Such a journey doesn’t seem to suit a lady raised in luxury.
“It’s okay for me, but since we’ll be hunting monsters directly, might it not be dangerous?”
Ariel, who likely had only cheered with fists and never wielded a sword, asked this.
Her answer came innocently and purely.
“It’s okay. I’m not the one who will be hunting. Plus, I have a knight for escort!”
“…”
Well…
That’s true, but it was still difficult to agree rashly.
Taking the unworldly lady on a direct-from-source culinary journey could bring unnecessary criticism from the House of Elrond.
“Maybe you should get your parents’ permission first? They might worry.”
Again, a naively pure response came.
“That’s fine too!”
“…Huh?”
“My parents told me to do what I want and live my way!”
…
…….
I thought it wouldn’t be easy for the young lady of the earldom to travel alone to the harsh lands of the North for a reading journey.
Our bun-haired bookworm young lady…
Even at the academy, constantly reading novels…
“She’s really looking forward to hunting monsters she’s only read about in books!”
She was free from her family’s expectations…?
Whoosh!
Thump!
After lunch and dinner with young lady Ariel, Rachel was training Elden at the outdoor training area.
Today was [Straight Sword Training], and she was teaching him basic grip and posture using a training wooden sword brought along.
“If you grip it like that, you’ll strain your wrist. It’s better to hold it more upright.”
“If you lower your stance too much by widening your leg span, you lose power when swinging the sword.”
All were tips from real combat experience.
Having never received professional training, she had learned through getting hurt and making mistakes, and naturally, her instructions might not be very clear.
However, he quickly adapted to the straight sword, swinging it as if it were his own.
‘Indeed, he has a natural talent.’
As training continued, her conviction grew.
She regretted not being able to provide professional training, given Elden Rapellion’s talent.
Despite the rough instruction, teaching one thing led him to discover ten others, and learning one thing led him to apply it in ten ways.
She had never taught anyone before, so she had no standard to compare to, but if this continues, becoming a monster hunter wouldn’t take long.
‘If he quickly grasps magic, maybe he could hunt medium-level monsters like dragons.’
After tomorrow’s formal meeting, Rachel thought to teach him about mana operation.
The woman who found teaching and training bothersome was now planning tomorrow’s training in her head.
She was establishing a sequence for teaching, something she had never done before.
The strange desire for someone else’s growth, the joy of someone else absorbing her teachings, these feelings of being a teacher were still unknown to her.
Anyway.
“Well done.”
And so the third training session ended.
Night had fallen, darkening the surroundings.
Rachel, absorbed in training, was surprised by how time had flown.
She took the training wooden sword from Elden.
“Phew, sword training is much more fun.”
“Well done.”
“Yes. Let’s go back to the annex now.”
Sweat should be washed off before it cools for more refreshment.
Elden took the lead, and Rachel silently followed.
“…?”
He looked back in puzzlement when Rachel whispered something.
“Go ahead. I need to check something.”
“Check? What for?”
“If it’s confirmed, I’ll tell you then.”
“…?”
Why the whispering all of a sudden.
It was mysterious, but knowing that Rachel did not act or speak frivolously, Elden nodded.
“Then I’ll go ahead.”
Moreover.
“I’ll return the wooden sword and then leave.”
Unlike her previous whispers, her last statement was spoken loudly.
The reason was unclear, but Elden moved on, given Rachel’s serious demeanor.
In contrast, Rachel turned around and began walking towards the rental service.
‘…….’
Plod, plod.
Rachel, initially heading towards the rental service, changed direction.
‘…As expected.’
She had felt a strange presence since yesterday.
Initially, she thought it was her imagination, but today she was convinced it was not.
Surviving on a battlefield filled with flying spears, arrows, and all kinds of weaponry relied heavily on her heightened senses.
Sensitivity.
That had saved her life dozens of times.
Spears and arrows coming from all directions, enemies targeting her from behind, allies who betrayed over a morsel of food, men who tried to assault her wanting her body—she had survived them all and rose to be known as [The Purple Knightess] because of her keen senses.
And those senses.
For the past few days, they had been alerting her to something suspicious.
It wasn’t malicious.
It didn’t bear hostility.
It merely focused on her employer and didn’t show any dangerous signs.
Thus, after distancing herself from it at the rental service, she was now tracking it from afar.
‘It’s transparent.’
Even as she approached, it was undetectable.
If not for her sensitive senses, recognizing it would have been impossible.
She held her breath to erase her own presence.
And soon, as she got close to it…
Rachel threw the sand she had been holding since the training ground into the air.
Click.
Despite there being nothing visible, the sand rebounded as if it had hit something, and Rachel quickly pointed her wooden sword at it.
Something small and transparent floating in the air.
“Move and you die.”
